Verizon is reportedly hiring hundreds of call center staff through third-party hiring companies, stoking speculation that the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. is preparing to launch the iPhone, a new report claims.

Customer service call center staffing companies Teleperformance and Ryla are looking for thousands of customer service representatives to field calls for a "major wireless cell phone service retailer," according to a report by CNET. Posts to the Careerbuilder website as well as the companies' own websites reveal that the positions will be dedicated to "either a wireless, cell phone, or communications company," with additional positions offering technical support for "personal computers and portable devices like MP3 players and smartphones."

One Teleperformance call center in Augusta, Georgia, will double its employees through the hiring campaign. "It is for a major wireless company that we have secured a new line of business, one of our existing clients," Marcie Ballard, vice president of recruiting for Teleperformance, told the Augusta Chronicle, although she declined to say which provider.

Both companies have prior experience supporting Verizon. Teleperformance also works with Apple, in addition to Verizon Wireless and the other major cell phone carriers in the past, the report notes. Ryla has worked with Verizon for over 10 years, a source told CNET.

While the connection between a flurry of call center recruiting and a Verizon iPhone is tenuous at best, the rumor was bolstered by Friday's news that Verizon had lost more ground to rival AT&T than expected in the third quarter. Third-quarter earnings reports from Verizon and At&T this week show that Verizon netted 584,000 new monthly-bill paying customers during the quarter, compared to AT&T's 745,000 additions, Reuters reports.

Verizon CFO John Killian told Reuters that Verizon expects to add 550,000 to 600,000 new monthly-bill paying customers in the fourth quarter, less than half of last years' number. Killian also stressed the importance of converting standard users into smartphone users in order to increase revenue through sales of data plans.

Though Verizon Wireless still holds the No. 1 spot as the largest telecommunications network in the U.S. with 93.2 million subscribers as of October, AT&T is close to overtaking the provider with 92.8 million subscribers of its own.

AT&T announced Thursday that it had activated a record 5.2 million iPhones in the September quarter. AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson called it a "terrific quarter," with a record number of customers signing new two-year contracts. Based on the numbers, more than three years of AT&T iPhone exclusivity have taken its toll on Verizon.

Rumors of a 2011 Verizon iPhone gained credence this month when The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is prepping a CDMA, Verizon-compatible iPhone for production by the end of the year. Some analysts believe Verizon could sell as many as 12 million iPhones in its first year of availability. Responding to the report from the Journal, Verizon COO Lowell McAdam told the press earlier this month that news of a Verizon iPhone would have to come from Apple.

Verizon is reportedly hiring hundreds of call center staff through third-party hiring companies, stoking speculation that the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. is preparing to launch the iPhone, a new report claims.

Customer service call center staffing companies Teleperformance and Ryla are looking for thousands of customer service representatives to field calls for a "major wireless cell phone service retailer," according to a report by CNET. Posts to the Careerbuilder website as well as the companies' own websites reveal that the positions will be dedicated to "either a wireless, cell phone, or communications company," with additional positions offering technical support for "personal computers and portable devices like MP3 players and smartphones."

One Teleperformance call center in Augusta, Georgia, will double its employees through the hiring campaign. "It is for a major wireless company that we have secured a new line of business, one of our existing clients," Marcie Ballard, vice president of recruiting for Teleperformance, told the Augusta Chronicle, although she declined to say which provider.

Both companies have prior experience supporting Verizon. Teleperformance also works with Apple, in addition to Verizon Wireless and the other major cell phone carriers in the past, the report notes. Ryla has worked with Verizon for over 10 years, a source told CNET.

While the connection between a flurry of call center recruiting and a Verizon iPhone is tenuous at best, the rumor was bolstered by Friday's news that Verizon had lost more ground to rival AT&T than expected in the third quarter. Third-quarter earnings reports from Verizon and At&T this week show that Verizon netted 584,000 new monthly-bill paying customers during the quarter, compared to AT&T's 745,000 additions, Reuters reports.

Verizon CFO John Killian told Reuters that Verizon expects to add 550,000 to 600,000 new monthly-bill paying customers in the fourth quarter, less than half of last years' number. Killian also stressed the importance of converting standard users into smartphone users in order to increase revenue through sales of data plans.

Though Verizon Wireless still holds the No. 1 spot as the largest telecommunications network in the U.S. with 93.2 million subscribers as of October, AT&T is close to overtaking the provider with 92.8 million subscribers of its own.

AT&T announced Thursday that it had activated a record 5.2 million iPhones in the September quarter. AT&T Chief Executive Randall Stephenson called it a "terrific quarter," with a record number of customers signing new two-year contracts. Based on the numbers, more than three years of AT&T iPhone exclusivity have taken its toll on Verizon.

Rumors of a 2011 Verizon iPhone gained credence this month when The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple is prepping a CDMA, Verizon-compatible iPhone for production by the end of the year. Some analysts believe Verizon could sell as many as 12 million iPhones in its first year of availability. Responding to the report from the Journal, Verizon CFO Lowell McAdam told the press earlier this month that news of a Verizon iPhone would have to come from Apple.

It's possible that Verizon could get a CDMA iPad 2 next year. And it could hit Verizon before the CDMA iPhone.

Just a crazy thought about iPhone announcement scheduling. If VZ does indeed get iPhone, and if it is actually announced in Q1 next year, then that could give Apple two iPhone announcements per year if they stick with that schedule. A lot if 'ifs' but please hear me out. There could be one announcement for Verizon iPhone in Q1, and another for AT&T iPhone in Q2. Two opportunities to generate huge media attention on iPhone every year.

And let's extend that thought a little further. It's very likely that AT&T has angered Steve in more than one way. And we know what happens when Apple's partners anger Steve (looking at you, ATI*.) Apple could retaliate for AT&T's recalcitrance by announcing each new iPhone model on Verizon first, then AT&T later in the year. Verizon gets more attention because they get to roll out iPhone 5 and/or iPhone 6, etc. months before AT&T gets theirs.

(* Way back in 2000, some ATI marketing weenie leaked information on new iMac and Power Mac models using ATI graphics cards just before MacWorld San Francisco. Steve was going to announce those new machines and graphics cards himself in his keynote, and he was livid. He removed all mention of ATI from his keynote, and all the signage in the Apple booth had ATI 's name and their Radeon graphics card brand name blacked out.)

It's possible that Verizon could get a CDMA iPad 2 next year. And it could hit Verizon before the CDMA iPhone.

Just a crazy thought about iPhone announcement scheduling. If VZ does indeed get iPhone, and if it is actually announced in Q1 next year, then that could give Apple two iPhone announcements per year if they stick with that schedule. A lot if 'ifs' but please hear me out. There could be one announcement for Verizon iPhone in Q1, and another for AT&T iPhone in Q2. Two opportunities to generate huge media attention on iPhone every year.

Could be, but I think it will be for an iPhone.

Also, the iPad is the one Apple device that could be world mode and support all the spectrums that would need to be supported. I doubt they will, but space isnt the same issue in the current iPad casing.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

It's possible that Verizon could get a CDMA iPad 2 next year. And it could hit Verizon before the CDMA iPhone.

Just a crazy thought about iPhone announcement scheduling. If VZ does indeed get iPhone, and if it is actually announced in Q1 next year, then that could give Apple two iPhone announcements per year if they stick with that schedule. A lot if 'ifs' but please hear me out. There could be one announcement for Verizon iPhone in Q1, and another for AT&T iPhone in Q2. Two opportunities to generate huge media attention on iPhone every year.

And let's extend that thought a little further. It's very likely that AT&T has angered Steve in more than one way. And we know what happens when Apple's partners anger Steve (looking at you, ATI*.) Apple could retaliate for AT&T's recalcitrance by announcing each new iPhone model on Verizon first, then AT&T later in the year. Verizon gets more attention because they get to roll out iPhone 5 and/or iPhone 6, etc. months before AT&T gets theirs.

(* Way back in 2000, some ATI marketing weenie leaked information on new iMac and Power Mac models using ATI graphics cards just before MacWorld San Francisco. Steve was going to announce those new machines and graphics cards himself in his keynote, and he was livid. He removed all mention of ATI from his keynote, and all the signage in the Apple booth had ATI 's name and their Radeon graphics card brand name blacked out.)

If VZ did get the iPhone, I think it would probably be announced at the same time for every carrier. The only difference would be the chipset.

Personally, I think this is all FUD. I think Apple and AT&T still have the 5 year contract in effect and it will be 2012 before you see the iPhone on any other carrier in the US. I see the iPad at VZ as a baby step for each company. I would love to see the iPhone on every carrier, but I don't think they can keep up with demand until that new Foxconn factory gets up and running.

Though Verizon Wireless still holds the No. 1 spot as the largest telecommunications network in the U.S. with 93.2 million subscribers as of October, AT&T is close to overtaking the provider with 92.8 million subscribers of its own.

If Verizon doesn't get the iphone for 2011, then the 5-year contract is still in effect. Also, At&t is catching up to Verizon at a fast rate, and I can see At&t being number one and Verizon being number two by the end of 2011.

And let's extend that thought a little further. It's very likely that AT&T has angered Steve in more than one way. And we know what happens when Apple's partners anger Steve (looking at you, ATI*.) Apple could retaliate for AT&T's recalcitrance by announcing each new iPhone model on Verizon first, then AT&T later in the year. Verizon gets more attention because they get to roll out iPhone 5 and/or iPhone 6, etc. months before AT&T gets theirs.

In the beginning At&t did pissed of Apple and vice-versa. Fast forward a few years later and Apple actually said that they're happy with At&t and actually defended them a few times.

In the beginning At&t did pissed of Apple and vice-versa. Fast forward a few years later and Apple actually said that they're happy with At&t and actually defended them a few times.

I'm not sure that's necessarily proof of them getting along. I mean what is Apple supposed to say? Here's a company that took a huge risk with you to make the iPhone possible and which remains the only major GSM carrier in your home market, so you have to rely on them for the foreseeable future.

On the other hand, I wish Apple HAD launched the iPhone with verizon just to highlight their network's deficiencies. I'm tired of reading all the AT&T bashing and the Verizon-is-greater-than-God talk. It's gotten so annoying. Verizon has its own problems save for the lack of a truly high profile device to expose them. Anyone who thinks life with VZ is going to be all sugar and rainbows really needs to get checked.

Also, the iPad is the one Apple device that could be “world mode” and support all the spectrums that would need to be supported. I doubt they will, but space isn’t the same issue in the current iPad casing.

You know, If Verizon suddenly announced tomorrow they have a Verizon iPhone available for sale ... it would have to be the best kept secret in history ... oh, wait a minute ... but then again ... or on the other hand ... but you could argue ...

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

Right- I can just see the geeks at Best Buy pointing to the new $1,000 MBA and any $400 Netbook and advising you what he recommends.

I witnessed that the other day while in BB (except it was a MacBook) and couldn't resist chiming it and pointing out in a few years the MB would still be worth a lot of money and could be sold and money used towards next Mac whereas the netbook would be rejected by Goodwill!

From Apple ][ - to new Mac Pro I've owned them all.Long on AAPL so biased"Google doesn't sell you anything, Google just sells you!"

If Verizon doesn't get the iphone for 2011, then the 5-year contract is still in effect. Also, At&t is catching up to Verizon at a fast rate, and I can see At&t being number one and Verizon being number two by the end of 2011.

At the 3Q pace, AT&T is probably number one today.......we are almost 4 weeks into the 4th quarter.

Why would Verizon need so many new call center staff for just one phone? Do they expect a lot of problems?

If VZ did get the iPhone, I think it would probably be announced at the same time for every carrier. The only difference would be the chipset.

Personally, I think this is all FUD. I think Apple and AT&T still have the 5 year contract in effect and it will be 2012 before you see the iPhone on any other carrier in the US. I see the iPad at VZ as a baby step for each company. I would love to see the iPhone on every carrier, but I don't think they can keep up with demand until that new Foxconn factory gets up and running.

Oh yeah, my first post on here.

First off, welcome to the forum! I agree with your first point, that it would be released at the same time for both carriers (June/July), and I think the reason they're doing it this January is to build in the "lower-cost" model in prep for the 5th gen. Apple always drops last years model to the $99 price point and this would put the iPhone 4 there for this next summer. I do have some concern about supply, but I'm sure they'll do the best they can to match demand, and we're all human--we can only do so much.

Last time Verizon pushed that crap, Steve walked right out the door and said, "Your Loss." Yes, yes it certainly was.

Yeah, Verizon has really been licking their wounds the last three and a half years. They don't have anything that compares to the iPhone. They really took a pasting. *sigh* Fanboys fanboys.

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalclips

You got that right!

Like I always said, this forum has a dozen or so people who make absurd statements and the rest chime in with totally agree, plus one and spot on. Occasionally we get a "you got that right" as well.

Verizon does not "need" apple. Nor does Adobe, Java or anyone else. Apple's existence is rooted in their ability to "get along" with the members of the Microsoft ecosystem. When Steve Jobs starts acting like a monolithic elitist, no one will want to have anything to do with him and Apple will wither and die on the vine.

It's happening a little bit more every day. Sad really. But a great test of how far people will go under the influence of the RDF.

Fairly weak rumor. \ I hope that Apple does have a Verizon iPhone ready to go. Apple needs something to convince Wall Street and investors that the current share price is worthwhile. It should give Apple the needed revenue to at least hold Apple above $300. I'm also interested in seeing if a Verizon iPhone will slow down Android growth a bit. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing analysts claims that Android will have 80% smartphone market share in a couple of years.

It's possible that Verizon could get a CDMA iPad 2 next year. And it could hit Verizon before the CDMA iPhone.

I call no on the CDMA ipad.

Why?

Because there is nothing stopping Apple from making one right now. No exclusive deals etc.

And yet the ipad you can buy at Verizon starting the 28th is NOT CDMA. It's a wifi with their mifi box. Why would they have to do that, instead of selling a native ipad if Apple could make one or is going to make one in just a few months for them.

As for the phone, court docs showed the deal was until 2012. Until someone addresses how anything before then is legally possible, I'm hesitant to believe any Verizon iphone rumors. Particularly ones this thin.

Because there is nothing stopping Apple from making one right now. No exclusive deals etc.

We dont know that. Nor do we know if Apple and AT&T have a 5 year deal. For all we know Apple could have signed an iron clad deal with AT&T regarding any CDMA-devices, any CDMA-devices in the US,, andy CDMA-devices in N. America, or any compatible devices for the other 3 MNOs in the US, and/or any CDMA-devices on Verizon.

The last two is how I would have covered my self if I was with AT&T. In fact, I wouldnt have even allowed Apple to include the 1700MHz UMTS spectrum in any of their devices, even if it wasnt activated.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Number one complaint I see and hear about Verizon. And now with all these Android phones coming out, several on Verizon. and the new hopeful Mifi surge with the ipad.

Well that alone is call to improve things on their CS side. If it is even Verizon at all. Everyone is assuming that cause Verizon has worked with these companies before. But for all we know, these positions could be for ATT or anhyone

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLiver

I wonder if the Verizon iPhone would carry the Verizon logo on it or require a VCast app preinstalled.

Nope. That is one of Apple's strict rules. THey control what is loaded etc on all their stuff. No way are they going to want either, so they won't allow it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackintosh

Like I always said, this forum has a dozen or so people who make absurd statements and the rest chime in with totally agree,

But we can always count on Blackintosh to come in and shite on Apple cause he's the anti-fanboy. He tries to claim that he buys Apple, buys Apple stock etc as if that 'investment' gives him some Godly right to say how they should do things. But it doesn't. And they don't. And since they don't do things the Blackintosh Way, they are morons. and it's his duty to post that everything they do, or are rumored to be doing is total failure

Quote:

Apple's existence is rooted in their ability to "get along" with the members of the Microsoft ecosystem.

That could be said about anyone in the computer business. THey all have to 'get along' with the members that have a piece of the puzzle they need.

Quote:

When Steve Jobs starts acting like a monolithic elitist, no one will want to have anything to do with him and Apple will wither and die on the vine.

It's happening a little bit more every day. Sad really. But a great test of how far people will go under the influence of the RDF.

Says you. But I haven't seen Apple suddenly deciding to make everything themselves. Or companies en mass flipping Steve Jobs the fingers and refusing to work with him. Or actual massive design deflects (rather than ones trumped up by hit seeking media). Or a lack of sales and a major drop in the stock price.

You say "reality distortion field" and I agree. THere is an RDF at play. But it is around you. Not the world. You are the one that can't see past your "that's not the way I would do it so it's a dumb play" attitude. And it's distorting your view of Apple and every part of the tech world that touches them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Constable Odo

Apple needs something to convince Wall Street and investors that the current share price is worthwhile.

Cause the millions of iphones sold in a matter of days and the millions of ipads in less than a month and growing isn't enough.

Quote:

I'm getting sick and tired of hearing analysts claims that Android will have 80% smartphone market share in a couple of years.

Analysts will keep saying such things even with the iphone on Verizon. And honestly who cares. Having more market share doesn't equal being better. Or what is right for you. Buy an iphone if you want an iphone, or buy an android if what you want is an android

I... Just a crazy thought about iPhone announcement scheduling. If VZ does indeed get iPhone, and if it is actually announced in Q1 next year, then that could give Apple two iPhone announcements per year if they stick with that schedule. A lot if 'ifs' but please hear me out. There could be one announcement for Verizon iPhone in Q1, and another for AT&T iPhone in Q2. Two opportunities to generate huge media attention on iPhone every year....

interesting ideas, but the flaw is that the CDMA iPhone is likely the only time when they have to make a second iPhone. By next year, LTE will be in the market and there would only be a case for making an LTE phone to service both Verizon and AT&T in the USA. The remaining market for the CDMA phone is all mostly third world.

They might come out with a single revision of it the CDMA phone at best, there might be two versions of the first round of LTE phones, but after that it's probably history.

interesting ideas, but the flaw is that the CDMA iPhone is likely the only time when they have to make a second iPhone. By next year, LTE will be in the market and there would only be a case for making an LTE phone to service both Verizon and AT&T in the USA. The remaining market for the CDMA phone is all mostly third world.

They might come out with a single revision of it the CDMA phone at best, there might be two versions of the first round of LTE phones, but after that it's probably history.

I dont think that is likely. Technically having LTE is some cities, even if they were to be on on all carriers in the US, doesnt mean they can drop the access to networks below LTE.

Think about it this way, Apple released an EDGE phone when 3G for AT&T had a lot more coverage than Verizon will have in 2011 with LTE. There is a technology issue with the size and power usage of the chips, but there is also a fundamental usability issue. There will need to be GSM/UMTS and CDMA/CDMA2000 for years to come.

Also think about the fact that even with 3G saturating most of of the US population on both networks phones still ship with CDMA 2G' and GSM(GPRS/EDGE) 2G. Now, the rebuttal for that is that CDMA 2G is for voice and CDMA2000(EV-DO) is for data so 2G is needed for Verizon and AT&T still doesnt have the geographic UMTS(HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA) 3G coverage that Verizon has, so they both need to have 2G active. But that proves my point in both instances that despite so many years after these technologies were enabled the older technologies are still needed.

The only way to get to a single iPhone again is if there can be a true world mode phone that combines GSM/CDMA/UMTS/CDMA2000 into one small efficient package and allows for all the needed bands, and still has room for LTE chips that probably dont yet exist on paper that are smaller and power efficient enough for the very anal and precise Apple that makes the smallest, most powerful smartphone with the longest battery life. Thats a hard combination to achieve.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

If VZ did get the iPhone, I think it would probably be announced at the same time for every carrier. The only difference would be the chipset.

Personally, I think this is all FUD. I think Apple and AT&T still have the 5 year contract in effect and it will be 2012 before you see the iPhone on any other carrier in the US. I see the iPad at VZ as a baby step for each company. I would love to see the iPhone on every carrier, but I don't think they can keep up with demand until that new Foxconn factory gets up and running.

Oh yeah, my first post on here.

I'm sure that part of the contract is for AT&T NOT to make the iPhone play second fiddle to Windows Phone 7 and Android. In recent weeks AT&T has been acting like a divorcee and is now trying to nail some W7 and Android chics.

iPhone to VZ has talked about for a long time but unlike before there has never been so much evidence pop out that the iPhone is definitely going to VZ until most recently.

We'll find out soon enough. If January comes and goes without a VZ iPhone then the 5 year deal is still in effect.

At the rate Iphones are selling with AT&T. AT&T could in theory be the #1 carrier in three months. I think Verizon getting the Iphone is so they can stay #1 since AT&T is in a position to take over the #1 cell phone carrier in the US as early as the next quarter.

If VZ did get the iPhone, I think it would probably be announced at the same time for every carrier. The only difference would be the chipset.

Personally, I think this is all FUD. I think Apple and AT&T still have the 5 year contract in effect and it will be 2012 before you see the iPhone on any other carrier in the US. I see the iPad at VZ as a baby step for each company. I would love to see the iPhone on every carrier, but I don't think they can keep up with demand until that new Foxconn factory gets up and running.

Oh yeah, my first post on here.

The thing that gives this credibility is that the WSJ broke the news. So far, whenever they've done that they've been correct. And the NY Times confirms it. The big, old news companies have sources that are much more reliable than the bloggers we normally get rumors from. If it weren't for that, I would agree with you. But as it is, I have to believe that we will see a Verizon phone sometime in 2011.

And don't forget that it"s not only Verizon that uses CDMA. There are 500 million CDMA users around the world. Sprint has another 48 million here. While it's not likely that both Sprint and Verizon will get the phone at the same time, it's possible that Sprint could get it later.

Before Android showed up, I think Apple wouldn't have bothered. But once it began to have a good showing, Apple saw the situation as being different. There's a psychological lift to being number one. There's also a dangerous one in being seen as a number two that's constantly losing ground.

Lastly, from my own experience with my own companies, I know that contracts always have loopholes in various areas that allow wiggle room to modify different aspects. It's very possible that the Apple/AT&T contract has performance numbers on both ends, and that AT&T's may have fallen below that agreed upon.

We dont know that. Nor do we know if Apple and AT&T have a 5 year deal. For all we know Apple could have signed an iron clad deal with AT&T regarding any CDMA-devices, any CDMA-devices in the US,, andy CDMA-devices in N. America, or any compatible devices for the other 3 MNOs in the US, and/or any CDMA-devices on Verizon.

The last two is how I would have covered my self if I was with AT&T. In fact, I wouldnt have even allowed Apple to include the 1700MHz UMTS spectrum in any of their devices, even if it wasnt activated.

C'mon Soli, really? Do you think there's any way that Apple would agree to such restrictive terms?

"Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example" Mark Twain"Just because something is deemed the law doesn't make it just" - SolipsismX

Well, here is one way to use up all that dry powder for "one or two" strategic acquisitions in the future: "Apple acquires Verizon Mobile in a deal valued at US $XX billion".

It would certainly be one of those great keynote slides with three arrows that the zen master likes to make a narrative out of, "Well, you see, first there was the iPhone and then there was the iPad and well..." the last arrow then points back Apple as having their own mobile phone industrial complex.

[QUOTE=AppleInsider;1739952]Verizon is reportedly hiring hundreds of call center staff through third-party hiring companies, stoking speculation that the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. is preparing to launch the iPhone, a new report claims.